Kevin's Brother From Another Mother (Sequel to A Gotham Christmas)

Papa's Got A Brand New Excuse

It took a few days, but soon Kevin and Barbara got back to Gotham City. They were welcomed back. Damian was glad to see Kevin was back. He hadn't done anything too chaotic in Kevin's absence. On one particular day, Kevin said to Damian, "Hey Damian, you good at playing catch?"

"Well, not exactly," admitted Damian. "Want me to teach you?" Kevin offered. Damian was a tad reluctant. He didn't like these "lessons." However, he liked Kevin. "I suppose I could give it a try," said Damian. "That's the spirit!" Kevin said enthusiastically. They were outside Wayne Manor, and Kevin held a baseball in his hand. He had a baseball glove on his left hand. Damian also had a baseball glove on his left hand. "Alright, here's how you do it," instructed Kevin, "first I throw the ball to you. You gotta catch it with the baseball glove." Kevin then threw the ball at Damian, and Damian caught it with his gloved hand. "That's very good Damian," complimented Kevin.

"Okay, now what do I do?" Damian asked. "You throw the ball back to me," instructed Kevin. Damian looked at the ball, and then threw it to Kevin. He caught the ball with his gloved hand. "Nice aim," said Kevin, "now it's my turn to throw the ball to you." He then threw the ball to Damian, and Damian caught it. "What is the point of tossing and catching this ball?" asked Damian. "It's just for fun," explained Kevin, "you ought to check out a game of baseball. Now that's a sport." Damian then threw the ball to Kevin. "I'll consider it," said Damian, and Kevin threw the ball back to him.

"It's an entertaining sport," said Kevin, "but if there's one sport I like more than baseball, it's basketball." Damian threw the ball to Kevin and asked, "Could you describe this... Game of basketball?" Kevin tossed the ball to Damian and said, "basically, you dribble the titular ball against a certain competitor, sometimes it can be one-on-one or a team like five against five, and you're supposed to throw the ball, sometimes dunk; into a basket-hoop. It's good for endurance." Damian tossed the ball and asked, "maybe you, father, and Grayson could teach me?"

"Yeah, one day," promised Kevin, "by the mention of him, I take it you've met Dick Grayson?" Damian nodded and said, "I have. He and I get along, I suppose. He is quite the humorous one." Kevin smirked and said, "Well I'm glad you and him have formed a good bonding. Wish I could say the same." Kevin tossed the ball and Damian asked, "are you and him rivals?" Kevin shrugged and said, "I wouldn't say rivals, but it doesn't help that he cheated on Barbara and dumped her." Damian was shocked as he asked, "Grayson did that?" Kevin nodded and said, "Yep. So it's hard for Babs to be in the same room with her ex."

"Her cynicism towards Grayson seems justified," said Damian, "but I guess it evens out. You are dating Barbara." Kevin smirked and said, "Yeah, it does. Plus I beat him in a game of basketball." And for the first time, Damian laughed. Bruce and Barbara watched, happy to see the two brothers bond.

A few weeks later, there was a marathon to Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episodes. "Hey Damian, want to watch Fresh Prince of Bel-Air with Barbara and I?" Kevin offered. "Sure," said Damian, "is it good?" They walked to the living room. "Oh definitely," said Kevin, "it put Will Smith on the map. It's hilarious." They then sat on the couch. Kevin was in the middle of the couch, Barbara on his right side and Damian on his left side. Kevin put his arm around Barbara, and she cuddled up to Kevin. He kissed her on the lips. 

For the next few hours, Kevin, Barbara, and Damian spent hours watching Fresh Prince, laughing at Will and Carlton's many hilarious antics. Damian liked Will. Then came one other episode. "Papa's Got A Brand New Excuse," read Kevin , "huh, never seen this one before..." So he, Damian, and Barbara watched this episode. In this episode, Will's estranged father Lou came back into Will's life, trying to reconcile with him. As the episode progressed, Will and his father bonded and spent time together. Then came the most emotional scene. In it, Lou got cold feet and walked out on Will again. Will, being a teenager, was justifiably mad, confused, and sad, giving an emotional performance.

Kevin would never deny that Will Smith was a great actor. Will was one of Kevin's favorite actors. But this scene, it was relatable for Kevin on so many levels. Because Kevin grew up without a father, Kevin could relate to this scene. The struggle of not having a father on Father's Day, and other joys of having a father that other kids take for granted. Finding other kids without fathers was few and far between. This scene struck an emotional chord with Kevin. Damian could also relate to this scene because he too spent ten years without knowing his father. Now, things are different. But still, that didn't mean that scene didn't strike an emotional chord with Damian. Kevin and Damian then were in tears, both of them crying. Barbara looked at them sadly, turned off the TV, and hugged them both. "It's okay boys..." she whispered, "it's okay..."

"I love you Kevin..." Damian tearfully said. "I love you too Damian..." Kevin tearfully replied. A few minutes later, Bruce came in. "Boys, I'm home!" Bruce called out. Kevin and Damian ran to Bruce and hugged him. "Boys, I was only gone for a few hours..." Bruce said, confused. "We just wanted to let you know, we love you father," said Damian. "Yeah, we don't want to lose you," said Kevin. Before Bruce could ask, Barbara came in and whispered to Bruce and explained what episode Kevin and Damian had watched. Bruce nodded and understood. He hugged his sons and said, "I love you boys too. You're the best sons that a father could ever ask for."